§ MR. FIELD (Dublin, St. Patrick)To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can explain why any change was allowed to be made in the tender forms for meat supply to the Army, by substituting the word home-killed instead of home-bred; whether he is aware that such change would enable the supply to be derived from imported cattle; and whether he will revert to the arrangement entered into some years since for the supply of a certain amount of native produce.
(answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) The troops in the United Kingdom get fresh beef five days a week, and the main reason for the alteration in the tender form was to widen the source of supply, and to obtain the best quality at the most reasonable price. The words in the tender form are general, and include beef from imported cattle killed at the port of entry. There is no intention of again substituting home-bred for home-killed in the tender forms.